Wringer construction



N. L. ETTEN 2,771,767

WRINGER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet J Nov. 27, 1956 Filed Jan. l1, 1951 Nov. 27, 1956 N. L. ETTEN 2,77L757 WRINGER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. ll, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1956 N. 1 ETTEN 2,771,767

WRINGER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 11, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 27, 1956 N. L. ETTEN WRINGER CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z3 .IRIVER/2101 Afac/zlqezz Filed Jan. lflfl 1951 WRINGER CONSTRUCTION Nicholas L. Etten, Cedar Falls, Iowa, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Chamberlain Corporation, Waterloo, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application January 11, 1951, Serial No. 205,581

4 Claims. (Cl. 68-263) My invention relates to wngers, and particularly to wringers for washing machines, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of my invention are applicable to other machines.

Wringers are inherently dangerous in that the fingers and clothing of the operator can be readily engaged between the power operated wringer rolls and serious injuries have resulted in the past.

One object of my invention is to provide a readily operable and rapid acting safety release mechanism for relieving pressure between the wringer rolls.

To this end, I provide a latching mechanism for releasably locking the wringer rolls in operative engagement for a safety bar disposed on each side of the rolls and longitudinally thereof, the safety bars being operable either toward or away from the rolls to positively release the latching mechanism and relieve the pressure between the rolls.

It is further desirable, and it is one of my objects, to have the rolls movable as far apart as possible so that parts which have undesirably become engaged between the rolls or wrapped around the rolls may be readily removed. At the same time, it is desirable to have the wringer occupy as little space as possible.

Accordingly, another feature of my invention is the provision of a mounting arrangement for one of the rolls which is compact but permits the roll to be moved a considerable distance away from the other roll.

Since one of the rolls is to be releasably movable a considerable distance away from the other roll, it is desirable to have the wringer drive mechanism connected to the other roll. At the same time, it is desirable to have the other roll resiliently movable.

Additional features, then, of my invention are in the provision of a mounting for a roll permitting limited resilient movement thereof and in the provision of a universal driving connection for the roll.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toggle linkage between the upper roll and the frame permitting considerable vertical movement of the upper roll with a minimum overall wringer length.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description considered with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a wringer constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the wringer in pressure released condition with the upper roll elevated;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the wringer of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the wringer taken from the left hand side of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a pictorial view of the wringer ot Figure l enclosed in a protective shroud.

Referring to the drawings, a wringer constructed in accordance with the general principles ot my invention nited States Patent O i "ice may include, generally, a frame on which a lower roll 14 is resiliently mounted, an upper roll 40 mounted on the frame for movement from an operative position in engagement with the lower roll, as illustrated in Figure l, to an upper inoperative position spaced from lower roll 14, as illustrated in Figure 2, and a latch mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 60 for releasably locking the upper roll 40 in its operative position engaged with roll 14.

The main frame for the wringer may comprise a pair of vertically disposed sheet metal members 10 and 11 held in horizontally spaced relation by means of a pair of horizontal rigid rods 12 and 13 having their ends secured to the frame members 10 and 11.

Lower roll mounting It is desirable that the lower roller 14 be resiliently mounted on the frame for limited vertical movement. To this end, l provide a pair of generally U-shaped guide members 15 and 16 which are ixedly secured to the inner surface of the frame members 10 and 11. A pair of generally U-shaped bearing supports 17 and 18 are slidably disposed in the guide members 15 and 16, respectively,

The bearing support member 17 has a pair of outturned ilanges 19 at its upper end and the bearing support 1S has a pair of outturned ilanges 20 at its upper end. The frame members 10 and 11 have inturned flanges 21 and 22, respectively, at their lower ends. A bolt 23 extends through a hole in each of the flanges of supports 17, 18 and is secured to the respective flange 21 or 22 by means of nuts 24. The head 25 of the bolt limits upward movement of the bearing supports 17 and 1S. A compression spring 26 is disposed on each of the bolts 23 and reacts against the fiange on the frame member and the flange on the bearing support to resiliently urge the bearing support upwardly. Thus, there is a pair of laterally spaced pressure springs at each end of the frame.

Referring to Figure 3, a pair of bearings 27 and 28 are supported on a pair of pins 29 and 30 which are secured between the sides of the U-shaped bearing supports 17 and 18, respectively, small pins 31 and 32 locking the bearings on the support. If desired, a pair of U-shaped members 33 and 34 may be disposed between the bearings 27 and 23 and support pins 29 and 30, re spectively, to absorb any wear which might otherwise be absorbed by bearings 27 and 2S. The upper surfaces of bearings 27 and 28 are arcuately recessed to conform with and receive the reduced end portions of the roll 14 supported thereon.

Lower roll drive connection Since the lower roll 14 is vertically movable it is desirable to have a universal drive connection thereto. To this end, the lower roll 14 has a cylindrical opening therein extending to the left end of the roll, as viewed in Fig. 3. Disposed in this opening is a drive shaft 35 which has a slot 36 in the end thereof engaged with a drive pin 37 fixed in the roll 14. The yother end of the drive shaft 35 may have a slot 38 for similar engagement with an element of a wringer driving mechanism, not shown. This universal drive connection permits the lower roll 14 to move vertically without undesirable reaction on the wringer driving mechanism. The disposition `of the drive shaft within the opening in the roll 14 permits a longer shaft to be used with a corresponding reduction in the angular displacement of the drive shaft with vertical movement of roll 14.

Upper roll mounting Referring to Figure 3, the upper roll 40 is secured to a shaft 41 which extends beyond both ends of the roll.

The left-hand extension of the shaft is journalled in a pair of sleeve bearings 42 and 43 which are pressditted in openings in bearing support members 4d and 45, respectively, which are, in turn, secured to a bracket 46 of inverted U-shape (Figure 4) by means of a pair of pins 47 and i3 extending through the legs of the bracket. A sleeve 49 is secured to shaft 41 between bearings 42 and 43 by means of a pin Si) to limit axial movement of the shaft with respect to the bearings.

A bracket l of generally U-shaped cross sectie-n is secured to the outer surface yof frame member As best illustrated in Fig. 2, bearing support bracket 46 is connected to bracket Si by means of a link 5?. pivotally secured to bracket 46 by a pin 52a and to bracket Sl by a pin 52h. A reset lever 53 pivoted on pin fi? to bracket 1&6 is connected to bracket Si by a link Sil pivotally secured to lever 53 by a pin 54a and to bracket Si by a. pin 541'). The lever S3 may be manually' moved downwardly and toward the frame from the position of Fig. 2

to move the bearing support bracket 46 and the left side of the roll 48 toward the lower roll 14 to the position -of Figs. l and 3. This movement of the lever 53 will also move the roll 46 axially to the right to move the right side of the roll toward the frame as will appear later.

The right hand extension of shaft 4l. is journaled in a sleeve bearing :3S which is press-fitted in a bearing sup port member 56. Bearing support member S6 is connected to a bracket 58 secured to the outer surface of frame member l1 by a link 57 pivotally secured to member 56 by a pin 57a and to bracket S8 by a pin S'b. The pin 57h is located upwardly from the axis of lower roll 14 a distance greater than the radius of roll i4 plus the radius of roll so that `movement of the upper roll axially to the right (Figs. l and 3), will move the bearing support 56 and the right side of the roll 40 toward the roll 14.

When the upper roll 4i) is moved downwardly to a position at which it engages the roll 14 without pressure being applied between the rolls, the link 57 is in a position such that a line in a vertical plane to the roll axes and extending from the axis of the pin 57h to the axis of the pin 57a is at an acute angle to a line in such vertical plane extending downwardly from the axis of the pin 57i; toward and normal to the axis of the lower roll 14. In the same position of the upper roll, the link 52 is in a position` such that a line in the same vertical plane extending from the axis of the pin 5227 to the axis of the pin 52a will be at an obtuse angle to a line in the same vertical plane extending from the axis of the pin 52h downwardly toward and normal to the axis of the lower wall 14.

With this relationship, rotation of the link 52 through a comparative-ly small angle in a clockwise direction to the position of Figure l will move the left-hand end of the upper roll 4i? downwardly into pressure engagement with the lower roll 14, but the upper roll 4Q will also move to 'the right in a path having a major directional component parallel to the axis of the lower roll and such movement of the upper roll will cause the right-hand end thereof to move downwardly into a pressure engagement with the lower roll, due to the position yof the link 57.

it will thus be seen that movement of the lever 53 downwardly and toward the frame will move the bearing supports 46 and 56 toward the lower roll to operatively engage the roll 40 with the roll i4 under pressure from the four springs 26.

Late-hing and releasing mechanism A releasable latching mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral 6l), is provided for locking the rolls in operative enyagement. Referring to Figure 3, a latch member 6i comprising a pair of spaced parallel portions 62 of identical configuration with a transverse plate portion 63 therebetween is pivoted to the bracket 51 by means of a pin 64 extending through the portions 62 and the legs of the bracket. A ltension spring 65 between the latch member 61 and the bracket 51 urges rotation of the latch member counterclockwise. The portions 62 of latch member 6l have aligned cam surfaces 66 terminating at aligned slots 67. As the lever 53 is manually moved toward the frame, the pin 54a thereon engages the cam surfaces 66 to pivot latch member 61 clockwise. When the pin is disposed opposite the slot 67 the spring 65 pivots the latch member counterclockwise to lock pin 54a in the slot 67.

Referring to Figure 4, a pair of rocker arms 69 and 70 are intermediately pivoted on a pair of horizontal pins 71 and 72, respectively, secured to frame member llt). The arms 69 and '70 have inwardly extending latch operating portions 73 and 74, and are connected together at their lower ends by a link 75 to cause simultaneous movement of the arms. The lower surfaces of portions 73 and 74 engage the portion 63 of latch member 6i. so that the arms 69 and 79 are resiliently held in their full line or neutral position of Figure 4 by the tension spring 65.

When arms 69 and 70 are moved counterclockwise to a position as illustrated in broken lines in Figure 4, the lower surface of portion 74 will engage portion 63 to rotate the latch 61 clockwise against the action of tension spring 65, the slot 67 will be moved out of the way of pin 54m, the lever 53 will be released and the pressure between the wringer rolls is released. It will be seen that with movement of levers 69 and 70 clockwise, the portion 73 of lever 69 will operate to release the latch in a similar fashion.

A safety release bar 76 is disposed on each side of the frame and formed with a handle portion 76a, pivot portions 76b and hooked end portions 76e. The pivot portions 76b are journaled in slots in frame members 10 and l1 and are held therein by fastening plates 77, the hooked end portions 76e limiting lengthwise movement of the safe-ty bars on the frame. The hooked end portions 76e` on the left-hand end of each bar engages in a slot in the respective lever 69 or 70. It will be readily seen that movement of the handle portion 76a either toward or away from the frame will cause the latch member 61 to be positively moved out of locking position thus relieving the pressure between the rolls 14 and 40.

Figure 5 shows the wringer enclosed in a protective shroud 78 ready for use, an upper pivotal cap 79 of the shroud being connected to the short link 80 (Fig. 2) in turn pivoted to the aforesaid link 57 at the inboard end of the wringer.

From Ithe foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a simply constructed, highly durable and economical wringer which may be easily and safely operated.

It will be understood that variations may be elected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of t.e present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a wringer, a frame, a first roll on said frame, a second roll movable from a position operatively engaged with said first roll to a position spaced therefrom, a manually operable reset member for moving said second roll, a movable latch member for releasably locking said reset member in a position in which said rolls are operatively engaged, resilient means urging said latch member to locking position, a pair of levers pivotally connected to said frame at spaced points for pivotal movement in either direction about said points, a link connecting said levers for movement together, each of said levers having a portion' engageable with said latch, and movement of said levers in either direction operatively engaging one of said portions with said latch member to move it against the action of said resilient means to a release position.

2. In a wringer, a Aframe, a lower roll journaled forr rotation in said frame, an upper roll, apair of support means at the opposite ends of said upper roll supporting said upper roll for rotation and fixed against axial movement relative thereto, and a pair of links pivoted to said frame at a first pair of arias in fixed relation to saidl frame and on lines spaced above and lying transverse to the axis of said lower roll and pivoted to said support means at a second pair of axes parallel to said first pair of axes, said support means being swingable arcuately about said first pair of axes to move said upper roll into and out of engagement with said lower roll with the paths of movement of said support means relative to said frame being determined substantially by said links.

3. In a wringer, a frame, a first roll journaled for rotation in said frame, a second roll, said rolls being adapted to assume a parallel inter-engaged relation, first and second support means at the opposite ends of said second roll supporting said second roll for rotation and fixed against axial movement relative thereto, a link pivoted to said frame for movement about a first axis fixed with respect to said frame, lying in transverse relation to the axis of said first roll and pivoted to said first support means at a second axis parallel to said first axis, with a line from said first axis to said second axis being at an acute angle to a line extending from said first axis toward and normal to said axis of said first roll when said first and second rolls are in parallel interengaged relation, and means acting between said frame and said second support means when said rolls are in interengaged relation for moving said second roll in a path having a major directional component to said axis of said first roll to urge said first support means toward said axis of said first roll.

4. In a wringer, a frame, a first roll journaled for rotation in said frame, a second roll, said rolls being adapted to assume a parallel inter-engaged relation, first and second support means at the opposite ends of said second roll supporting said second roll for rotation and xed against axial movement relative thereto, a first link pivoted to said frame for movement about a first axis fixed with respect to said frame, lying in transverse relation to the axis ot said first roll and pivoted to said first support means at a second axis parallel to said first axis, with a line from said first axis to said second axis being at an acute angle to a line extending from said first axis toward and normal to said axis of said first roll when said first and second rolls are in parallel inter-engaged relation, and a second link pivoted to said frame at a third axis in fixed transverse relation to the axis of said first roll and pivoted to said second support means at a fourth axis parallel to said third axis and disposed closer to said first axis than said third axis, with a line from said third axis to said fourth axis being at an obtuse angle to a line extending from said third axis toward and normal to said axis of said first roll when said first and second rolls are in parallel inter-engaged relation without pressure applied therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 707,974 ierkins Aug. 26, 1902 731,049 Hall June 16, 1903 970,317 Firth Sept. 13, 1910 1,429,246 McCutchen Sept. 19, 1922 1,477,503 Krahn Dec. 11, 1923 1,565,065 Doerr Dec. 8, 1925 1,817,604 Behan Aug. 4, 1931 1,956,065 Etten Apr. 24, 1934 2,023,133 Gringer Dec. 3, 1935 2,138,397 Cannity Nov. 29, v1938 2,181,255 Altorfer Nov. 28, 1939 2,183,881 Etten Dec. 19, 1939 2,198,462 Schroeder Apr. 23, 1940 2,296,780 Etten Sept. 22, 1942 2,313,134 Etten Mar. 9, 1943 2,544,309 Gabrielson Mar. 6, 1951 2,596,154 Keating et a1 May 13, 1952 

